- Install storm windows or replace old windows; make sure your home is well insulated.
- Clean out gutters and repair any leaks.
- Cut down dead trees and branches that could fall on your house.
- Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Secure any loose objects on your property, particularly those that could become projectiles in heavy wind. Make sure windows are closed.
- If you can, invest in a generator or arrange a communal generator with your neighbours.
- Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone is your house knows how to use them.
- Allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
- Hire a contractor to check the structural stability of the roof to make sure it can sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow or water.
- If there is a threat to power, fill your bathtub with water that can be boiled and used for cooking.
- Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold or where the cold was most likely to penetrate.
Printer-friendly version
